Equalizing means for well tools

A well flow control device, comprising:

• a. tubular housing means having means at at least one of its ends for attachment to a well flow conductor;
• b. main valve closure means in said housing movable between open and closed positions;
• c. valve operator tube means in said housing movable longitudinally relative thereto between upper and lower positions, said operator tube means being operatively engageable with said main valve closure means for controlling movement of said main valve closure means from said closed to said open position;
• and
• d. equalizing valve means for equalizing pressures across said main valve closure means prior to moving said main valve closure means from said closed towards said open position, said equalizing valve means including:
• i. lateral equalizing port means in the wall of said tubular housing means above said main valve means,
• ii. equalizing valve closure means for controlling flow of fluids through said lateral equalizing port means, said equalizing valve closure having a portion thereof projecting through said port into the interior of said tubular housing means,
• iii. means on said operator tube means engageable with said equalizing valve closure means for moving said equalizing valve closure means to open position to permit flow of fluids through said lateral equalizing port means, said means for moving said equalizing valve means including external recess means on said valve operator tube means comprising a lower recess and an upper recess separated from said lower recess by a land, said land being beveled at its upper and lower sides to provide upper and lower cam shoulders, said upper and lower recesses accommodating the projecting portion of said equalizing valve closure means when said valve operator tube means is in its lower and upper positions, respectively, and said land engaging said equalizing valve closure means and moving it to open position on downward movement of said valve operator tube means from its upper position,
• iv. upper and lower resilient seal means sealing between said tubular housing means and said valve operator tube means above and below said lateral equalizing port means of said tubular housing means, and
• v. lateral equalizing passage means in the wall of said valve operator tube means positioned above said upper resilient seal means when said valve operator tube means is in its upper position, said lateral equalizing passage means being movable to a position below said upper resilient seal means before said shoulder means on said valve operator tube means engages said equalizing valve closure means.

A well flow control device, comprising:

• a. a housing having a bore therethrough, said housing being attachable to a well flow conductor;
• b. a main valve closure member in the housing movable between closed and open positions to control flow therethrough;
• c. a collapsible, longitudinally movable operator tube disposed in said housing for moving said main valve closure member between closed and open positions;
• d. means for moving said operator tube in a first direction tending to open said main valve closure member;
• e. means biasing said operator tube in a second direction opposite said first direction;
• f. equalizing valve means openable in response to relative longitudinal movement of said operator tube in said first direction, said equalizing valve means including:
• i. external recess means on said operator tube, said external recess means comprising a lower recess and an upper recess separated from said lower recess by a land, said land being beveled at its upper and lower sides to provide upper and lower cam shoulders, said upper and lower recesses accommodating the projecting portion of said equalizing valve closure means when said valve operator tube means is in its lower and upper positions, respectively, and said land engaging said equalizing valve closure means and moving it to open position on downward movement of said valve operator tube means from its upper position,
• ii. first and second resilient seal means sealing between said operator tube and said housing above and below said external recess means,
• iii. first lateral equalizing port means in the wall of said housing between said first and second seal means and having a valve seat therein,
• iv. equalizing valve closure means in said first lateral equalizing port means engageable with said equalizing valve seat and having a portion thereof projecting into the bore of said tubular housing means, said equalizing valve closure means being movable between open and closed positions to control flow through said port, said external recess means on said operator tube being opposite said equalizing valve closure means when said main valve closure member is in closed position, said equalizing valve closure means being movable to open position by engagement of said downwardly facing cam shoulder upon downward movement of said operator tube from its upper position, and
• v. second lateral equalizing port means in the wall of said operator tube, said second lateral equalizing port means being above said first resilient seal means when said main valve is closed and being movable past said first resilient seal means on downward movement of said operator tube, said second equalizing port means passing said first resilient seal means before said downwardly facing cam shoulder engages said equalizing valve closure means.

A surface controlled subsurface safety valve adapted to be connected in a well flow conductor to control flow therethrough, comprising:

• a. a housing having a bore therethrough and having means thereon for attachment to means anchorable in said well flow conductor;
• b. main valve closure means in the bore of said housing movable between open and closed positions;
• c. operator tube means in the bore of said housing and longitudinally movable therein for moving said main valve closure means between said open and closed positions;
• d. piston means on said operator tube means responsive to control fluid pressure transmitted to one side thereof from the surface for moving said operator tube means in a first longitudinal direction;
• e. spring means in said housing biasing said operator tube means in a direction opposite said first direction;
• f. pressure equalizing valve means in the wall of said tubular housing openable to permit fluid to bypass said main valve closure means to decrease the pressure differential thereacross to reduce the force required to move said main valve closure means towards open position, said equalizing valve means including:
• i. equalizing port means in the wall of said housing and having a seat surface formed therein,
• ii. an equalizing valve closure in said equalizing port means engageable with said seat surface therein to control flow therethrough, said valve closure having a portion thereof extending through said seat surface and projecting into the bore of said housing, and
• iii. means biasing said equalizing valve closure towards said seat in said equalizing port means,
• g. means on said operator tube means engageable with said projecting portion of said equalizing valve closure to move said closure from engagement with said seat upon movement of said operator tube means in said first direction to permit flow through said equalizing port means, comprising a lower recess and an upper recess separated from said lower recess by a land, said land being beveled at its upper and lower sides to provide upper and lower cam shoulders, said upper and lower recesses accommodating the projecting portion of said equalizing valve closure means when said valve operator tube means is in its lower and upper positions, respectively, and said land engaging said equalizing valve closure means and moving it to open position on downward movement of said valve operator tube means from its upper position;
• h. an upper resilient seal ring carried in a recess in the wall of said housing bore and sealingly engaging said operator tube means above said equalizing valve means;
• i. a lower resilient seal ring carried by said operator tube means and sealingly engaging the inner wall of said housing bore below said equalizing bore;
• and
• j. equalizing passage means in the wall of said operator tube means positioned above said upper seal ring when said main valve closure means is closed and movable past said upper seal ring to a position of fluid communication with said equalizing port means of said housing on movement of said operator tube means in said first direction, said lateral equalizing port means of said operator tube means being communicated with said equalizing port means of said housing before said shoulder means on said operator tube means engages said projecting portion of said equalizing valve closure.

A device for use with a downhole well tool for equalizing pressures thereacross, comprising:

• a. tubular body having means for attachment in a well tool to become a part thereof, said body having a lateral equalizing port in its wall and an annular seat surface in said port, said body also having a pair of internal seals spaced above and below said port;
• b. valve means carried by said body for controlling fluid flow through said port, said valve means including:
• i. a valve closure engageable with said seat surface in said port and having a portion extending through said seat surface and into the bore of said tubular body means, and
• ii. means biasing said valve closure towards seat engaging position to close said port;
• c. operator tube means in said body slidable longitudinally relative thereto between upper and lower positions while engaged with said pair of seals, said operator tube means including:
• i. downwardly facing shoulder means on said operator tube means for engaging and unseating said valve closure on downward relative longitudinal movement of said operator tube means in said body,
• ii. external annular groove means formed in the exterior of said operator tube means a spaced distance above said downwardly facing shoulder means and disposed at or near said valve closure when said operator tube means is in its lower position,
• iii. at least one longitudinal groove formed in the exterior of said operator tube means and extending from said downwardly facing shoulder means to a location spaced above said external annular groove means to allow fluids to freely enter the body through said port, and
• iv. lateral passage means in the wall of said operator tube means disposed above said pair of sseals when said operator tube means is in its upper position and being disposed between said pair of seals when said operator tube means is in its lower position;
• and
• d. means biasing said operator tube means towards its upper position.

A device for use with a downhole well tool for equalizing pressures thereacross, comprising:

• a. tubular body having means for attachment in a well tool to become a part thereof, said body having a lateral equalizing port in its wall and an annular seat surface in said port, said body also having a pair of internal seals spaced above and below said port;
• b. valve means carried by said body for controlling fluid flow through said port, said valve means including:
• i. a valve closure engageable with said seat surface in said port and having a portion extending through said seat surface and into the bore of said tubular body means, and
• ii. means biasing said valve closure towards seat engaging position to close said port;
• c. operator tube means in said body slidable longitudinally relative thereto between upper and lower positions while engaged with said pair of seals, said operator tube means including:
• i. downwardly facing shoulder means on said operator tube means for engaging and unseating said valve closure on downward relative longitudinal movement of said operator tube means in said body,
• ii. external annular groove means formed in the exterior of said operator tube means a spaced distance above said downwardly facing shoulder means and disposed at or near said valve closure when said operator tube means is in its lower position,
• iii. at least one longitudinal groove formed in the exterior of said operator tube means and extending from said downwardly facing shoulder means to a location spaced above said external annular groove means to allow fluids to freely enter the body through said port, and
• iv. lateral passage means in the wall of said operator tube means disposed above said pair of seals when said operator tube means is in its upper position and being disposed between said pair of seals when said operator tube means is in its lower position;
• d. means biasing said operator tube means towards its upper position;
• and
• e. said lateral passage means and said shoulder means on said operator tube means being spaced relative to the upper one of said pair of seals such that on downward movement of said operator tube means said lateral passage means passes said upper one of said pair of seals before said shoulder means on said operator tube means engages said valve closure.